On Saturday 18 October Rix Inclusive Research hosted a Campaigning Day with Pathfinders Neuromuscular Alliance in the Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability on Docklands Campus.
There were several speakers who came to talk about their experiences of campaigning for disability rights and social justice. Sue told us about the Direct Action she took part in during the 1980s. This included chaining herself to buses in Oxford Street with other disabled people, taking over Government Offices and targeting the 15 MPs who kept trying to prevent the Disability and Discrimination Act (1995) from being passed. This made me feel inspired, that protesting and other peaceful forms of protest like chaining yourself to a bus make a real and tangible difference to society for disabled people. I was shocked that it took so much campaigning to force the Government to make train and bus travel accessible.
Campaigning to make public transport fully accessible for everyone
Thanks to people like Sue, I can now expect all public transport to be accessible, as well as public buildings. This isn’t always the case even now, but at least we have a legal right for it to happen which we didn’t have before the 1995 Act.
Other speakers talked about campaigning to make their local railway station accessible, and for increased social care packages. Sam, who is the Campaigns and Research Officer in Pathfinders, talked about his fight to get accessible housing in Bristol where he and his cat Barry live. He also told us about the new social care campaign and other research that Pathfinders are involved in. In the afternoon a new initiative was announced, the ‘Hoists in Hotels’ campaign.
Don’t Wing It, Sling It campaign wristband
This campaign is trying to persuade hotels across the country to put hoists into their bedrooms so that disabled guests can stay there. It can be a real problem finding places to stay if you are disabled, so hopefully, through this campaign, more people will realise what is needed to make places properly accessible.
Saul Catlin, RIX co-researcher
We are delighted to have secured one of the Launchpad pilots for London Social Ventures to explore innovative solutions to problems in Health and Social Care.
Storysharing® is a unique intervention that supports individuals with severe communication problems to recall and share everyday experiences in the form of collaborative conversations.
This promotes identity, memory, community, strong inter-peer relationships, listening, agency, and equality.
Storysharing addresses loneliness and wellbeing by providing mental stimulation.
It promotes independence – making choices depends on remembering the experience and consequences of previous choosing.
It fosters high quality care, better knowledge of residents, and more effective communication between staff and residents.
It provides enjoyment and sense of purpose for staff.
The pilot project will be developed and evaluated over the next six months, working in partnership with providers and the Social Ventures team.
Rix Inclusive Research Institute was delighted to be invited by Hannah Otoo, CEO of the REYO Foundation and organiser of Autism & SEN Show Africa 2025, to take part in this year’s event.
The conference is an international affair with delegates, exhibitors and speakers from around the world taking part. There are opportunities for professional development through presentations, workshops and exploration of new resources and technologies that have been proven to improve outcomes for young people.
The event was designed to appeal to teachers, healthcare professionals, parents, and the general public who want to engage with the latest information on Autism, Learning Disabilities, and Special Needs.
Professional development from Rix Inclusive Research
RIX provided two training sessions at the event which we include as video presentations below.
Inclusion without borders is presented by RIX Director Gosia Kwiatkowska. The presentation outlines core challenges and opportunities in the provision of inclusive education, health and care. Gosia explores the approach used at RIX to include and value differences and demonstrates how policy and strategy can lead positive change and social justice for autistic people and those with lived experience of disability.
A more inclusive classroom is presented by RIX Technical Director Craig Wilkie (also a teacher, education advisor and author) and provides practical ideas and approaches to improve inclusion in classrooms through the use of software such as the RIX Wiki and RIX EasySurvey.
RIX are delighted to take part and are actively collaborating with the REYO Foundation to secure funding for future inclusive technology projects in Ghana and the UK. Our collaboration with the Autism & SEN Show Africa conference is part of our ongoing partnership.
We all know how important it is to seek and give feedback about public services, especially health and social care services, which have a direct impact on people’s lives and can profoundly affect a person’s wellbeing.
Inclusion Ireland and HSE’s MY VOICE Survey 2025
Inclusion Ireland, alongside HSE, Ireland’s health and social care service, have been using our RIX EasySurvey software to find out what people with intellectual disabilities think about their day services and they have promoted this in a YouTube video.
As you will see in the video, EasySurvey provides a colourful and accessible survey platform with automated text-to-speech, and placeholders for images to support both the questions and the answer options. The software also gives the survey builder the option of adding videos to each page. These could take the form of video explainers, or signed video for people who use Makaton or BSL.
In kiosk mode, getting responses from groups of people, in a day service for example, couldn’t be easier. Just pass an internet-connected tablet around the room and make sure everybody clicks on Submit on completion of the survey before passing the tablet on to the next person. Longer surveys, where not all questions apply to all voters, can be broken down into smaller sections using the skip logic function.
Meanwhile, in the admin area, EasySurvey collates the survey results in real time, giving a useful snapshot of views, with the option to export the full data to a spreadsheet.
You can find out more about RIX EasySurvey via the links below.
Rix Inclusive Research is excited to be working with the Republic of Uzbekistan to review and audit inclusive and accessible practices in colleges and other educational establishments.
With a strong focus on universal design principles, the Republic of Uzbekistan is collaborating with RIX to assess areas of strength and identify development opportunities in policy and practice. In addition, training and professional development will be provided to share best inclusive practice in teaching and learning.
The project begins in September 2025 and concludes with the production of a consolidated proposal for improving inclusiveness in the vocational education system.
The project is being led by Associate Professor Gosia Kwiatkowska and Dr Nicola Crossley (CEO of Liberty Multi Academy Trust) with colleagues from the RIX and Liberty Trust teams in support.
We are excited to join the Government and people of Uzbekistan on this journey towards greater inclusion and improved education and life opportunities for all citizens.
Map of Republic of Uzbekistan
Loyiha boshlanishi: Inclusive Hub Uzbekistan
Rix Inclusive Research O‘zbekiston Respublikasi bilan hamkorlik qilib, kollejlar va boshqa ta’lim muassasalarida inklyuziv va qulay amaliyotlarni ko‘rib chiqish va auditdan o‘tkazishdan mamnun.
Umumiy dizayn tamoyillariga kuchli e’tibor qaratgan holda, O‘zbekiston Respublikasi RIX bilan hamkorlikda kuchli tomonlarni baholash hamda siyosat va amaliyotdagi rivojlanish imkoniyatlarini aniqlamoqda. Bundan tashqari, o‘qitish va o‘rganishda eng yaxshi inklyuziv tajribalarni ulashish uchun treninglar va kasbiy rivojlanish imkoniyatlari taqdim etiladi.
Loyiha 2025 yil sentyabr oyida boshlanib, kasb-hunar ta’limi tizimida inklyuzivlikni oshirish bo‘yicha yakuniy konsolidatsiyalangan taklif tayyorlash bilan yakunlanadi.
Loyihaga dotsent Gosia Kwiatkowska va doktor Nicola Crossley (Liberty Multi Academy Trust bosh direktori) rahbarlik qilmoqda, RIX va Liberty Trust jamoalari hamkorlikda loyihani qo‘llab-quvvatlamoqda.
Biz ushbu yo‘lni bosib o‘tishda O‘zbekiston hukumati va aholisi bilan birga bo‘lishdan va barcha fuqarolar uchun inklyuzivlikni oshirish hamda ta’lim va hayot imkoniyatlarini yaxshilashga hissa qo‘shishdan juda xursandmiz.
British Future is a charity that is researching how people in Newham can feel included in their local community and can feel a sense of belonging. Rix Inclusive Research are excited to be working on this project and researcher Ajay Choksi will co-host the project workshop in September.
The research is looking at how people’s ethnic background affects their sense of inclusion and belonging. We are also interested in how people’s experiences of disability are important to these issues. The project received funding from the London Borough of Newham.
Research about inclusion and belonging in Newham
We want to understand how local services and activities can support people from all backgrounds and we are asking participants at Eastway Care to take part in our research.
Participants can share a photograph with us of a place in Newham where they feel happy and comfortable
They will have two weeks over August to take a photograph or video from a journey that they take in Newham
Participants or carers can send this to us through a text or WhatsApp
They can also give us an object from the journey and we will visit Eastway care to collect these
Up to ten of the participants who send a photograph will also be offered a chance to take part in a fun workshop afterwards. We will talk about their picture and the places in Newham which they like (or do not like), with interactive games and refreshments. The project researcher, Ajay, will be in touch with participants who send in photos, films or objects to share invitations for the workshop.
Time, date and venue for workshop
Wednesday 24 September 11am-1pm
Rix Inclusive Research Institute
Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability
University of East London Docklands campus
4-6 University Way
London E16 2RD
Our research is taking place until the end of September 2025. After this, we will publish our findings in a report later this year, which will include a section sharing what we heard from the participants at Eastway Care. We will send this to everyone who takes part.
We are delighted to invite you to a strategic, inclusive, and creative conversation as part of Not F**kin’ Sorry! (NFS!) The Film Event: Building an Inclusive & Anti-Ableist Society at The Source (formally Stratford Circus), on Thursday 4 September 2 to 4.30pm as part of the Creative Industries Festival 2025.
We believe that NFS! The Film can become part of training within the statutory, public and creative industry sectors, inform policy, and offer film-screening events to celebrate learning disability and neurodivergent culture. NFS! The Film is part of a national and international Impact and Innovation research project.
Performers from Not F**kin’ Sorry!
The Film Event will include:
Welcome by University of East London’s Impact and Innovation Research Office, Office of Institutional Equity and the Rix Inclusive Research Institute
Introduction hosted by Not Your Circus Dog Collective and Access All Areas
Screened extracts from NFS! The Film
Sharing Outcomes from NFS! 2019-2025 and The Implicated Subject (Rothberg 2019)
Exploratory and inclusive creative conversations on NFS! as a powerful tool for self-advocacy, representation, training for inclusion, equity and care, and for influencing policy
Be an ally by becoming an NFS! partner
Refreshments, continued conversations, and timeline
The event will be Sign Interpreted and captured by artist and animator Charlie Minnion.
The session will be hosted and co-facilitated by Liselle Terret (UEL/The Dogs) Nick Llewelyn (AAA), Adam Smith, Emma/Xandri Selwyn, Stephanie Newman, DJ Hassani (The Dogs), Heather Johnson, Katie Wheeler (AAA/The Dogs).
For further information, any questions, becoming an NFS! Partner or access requirements please email: creativefutures@uel.ac.uk (subject heading: NFS! The Film Event).
Our event is for:
Arts and culture leaders and allies
Educators and youth workers
Health and social care professionals
Policy influencers
Charity and statutory organisations
Anyone committed to creating a more inclusive society
This year we celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Social History of Learning Disability (SHLD) Conference at the Open University. The two-day event, held on 9-10 July, brought together many people from across the world.
We had people attending from Australia and the UK. The conference was hosted by Ian, Craig and Liz, and featured keynote speakers such as Professor Jan Walmsley, presentations, and a full programme. Gosia and I had the pleasure of presenting and hosting a session.
For our talk, I focused on my journey with technology over the years. My interest in technology started when I was a little boy. I remember using my first desktop computer to play old games. Later, when I was 16 or 17, I joined Sixth Form College and studied IT. I learned to use Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. After finishing college in 1998–99, I struggled to find a job and worked in shops and factories.
Ajay learning about technology from child to adult
Things changed in 2007 when I met my employment support worker, Charles Oham, and started at The RIX Centre. That’s where I became a Technical Assistant — and I’ve been in that role for more than 18 years now!
I’ve worked closely with Gosia on many projects. I helped teach people how to use computers, microphones, cameras, and multimedia software. We used PowerPoint, Audacity, Movie Maker, scanners, Photo Story, and created easy-read materials like Newham Easy Read and Click Start.
Ajay and Gosia presenting at the Open University’s SHLD conference
As technology changed, I kept learning. Today, I work as a Technical Assistant, Researcher, and a proud member of purpleSTARS. I use RIX Wikis in research projects to help document every step and make the research inclusive. I also teach others how to use technology to break down barriers and support people into employment.
At the conference, I was happy to share my story and hopefully inspire others to explore technology. My message is simple:
You can do it, and you can live it!
Ajay Choksi and Gosia Kwiatkowska
At Rix Inclusive Research, we believe everyone deserves the right to access the assistive technology they need to learn, work, and socialise.
That’s why we’re proud to announce our recent membership of the British Assistive Technology Association(BATA).
Many members of the RIX team personally use assistive technology. This firsthand experience of how powerful technology can be in helping us to achieve our goals and deliver projects is central to everything we do. We even see our own software, like the RIX Wiki, as an assistive tool, empowering people to live life to the fullest and reach their potential.
Ajay, off camera, is typing Wiki Master with his eyes
Beyond joining BATA, we’re continuously working to raise the profile of, and campaign for, more equitable access to Assistive Technology (ATech) for everyone who can benefit. We drive this forward through innovation, leading events such as our inclusive hackathons, and through our active partnership with Policy Connect and the ATech Policy Lab. We champion the value of inclusive technology, sharing our research and successes with Policy Lab Director Robert McLaren and an all-party parliamentary group.
For a compelling look at the impact of ATech, especially in education, check out this video from a recent BATA research project. It offers a great introduction for anyone wanting to learn more.
From 15 to 28 June 2025, we proudly hosted our first ever study abroad summer school for university students with disabilities and differences. In partnership with the University of Florida and Learn International, this pioneering programme, Technological Applications for Disability Access, brought together ten students and seven faculty members and supporters for an unforgettable two weeks of learning, innovation, and community building in the heart of London.
Students, supporters and staff from the Learn International Summer School
Over the course of the programme, participants engaged in a rich, person centred curriculum designed to explore accessibility through multiple lenses—urban design, digital media, sport, transportation, education, and the arts. The initiative combined immersive site visits, collaborative group work, academic lectures, and a dynamic 10-day hackathon to empower students as innovators and agents of change in their own communities. For the last three days we also welcomed representatives from nine American universities who wanted to see the programme before sending their students next year.
Each day was structured to build knowledge, skills, and inclusive design thinking. Students were introduced to the principles of Universal Design, assistive technologies, and multimedia advocacy. They learned how inclusive research and co-production methodologies could be applied to address real-world barriers experienced by disabled people.
Students participated in a range of activities throughout the programme
Among the standout highlights was a visit to the Google Accessibility Discovery Centre at King’s Cross, where students interacted with state-of-the-art inclusive technologies. The group also enjoyed immersive learning experiences at the Victoria and Albert Museum, Charlton Park Academy, and Tottenham Hotspur’s stadium. Each of these visits provided insight into how accessibility can—and should—be embedded into every facet of life, from education to culture and sport.
Throughout the two weeks, students were inspired by a diverse array of speakers, including contributors from the BBC, Transport for London, and UCL’s PEARL research lab. Sessions explored everything from digital self-advocacy and the future of accessible transport to the role of inclusive technologies in modern media.
Transport for London’s session on co-production and their ongoing work on the RoboRamp project offered a powerful case study in inclusive urban design. Meanwhile, presentations from academic leads at UEL—including myself and my colleagues Dr Nic Hollinworth, Dr Kate Allen, and Dr Paul Watts—covered themes like accessible education, health, sport, and cultural inclusion.
At the heart of the programme was Hackathon25, and a follow on 10-day collaborative project where students worked in groups to identify real-life accessibility issues and co-design innovative solutions. Supported by inclusive researchers, faculty, and community partners, students applied everything they had learned to develop meaningful prototypes.
The three final group projects reflected the passion and creativity of the participants
Right of Way Initiative – focused on improving the accessibility of pedestrian crossings, promoting independence and safety for all
Clean Commute – designed a public sanitation station system for wheelchair users and other commuters needing access to hygienic facilities during travel
Accessible Learning with Personalised Books – a solution aimed at making reading materials more inclusive, particularly for learners with cognitive or sensory differences
These final projects were presented during a celebratory graduation event on Friday 27 June where each group showcased their prototype, poster, and learning journey. The event was attended by Robert McLaren, Director of Policy at Policy Connect, academic staff, industry guests, and representatives from the visiting universities, creating an atmosphere of pride, excitement, and future potential.
Students enjoy a West End Theatre trip
Beyond the classroom, students enjoyed the full spectrum of London’s cultural offerings. Theatre trips, the London Bus Tour, and excursions to iconic locations like the O2 via cable car added a sense of adventure. A wheelchair basketball session, run by the UEL Phoenix team, offered not just physical activity but a vital reminder of the importance of inclusive recreation.
Wheelchair basketball session run by UEL Phoenix
Living together in student halls and sharing meals, challenges, and wins, students formed strong social bonds that made the entire experience not just educational, but truly transformative.
This was the first study abroad summer programme of its kind focused on disability and inclusive innovation in London. It was a pilot year full of discovery—for the students, for UEL, and for our partners. We learned valuable lessons about making campus spaces more inclusive, about how travel and accommodation must adapt, and about how the voices of students with disabilities can shape research and design when given the right platform.
Looking ahead, the Rix Inclusive Research Institute is committed to building on the insights from this programme. We aim to embed inclusive international experiences into our curriculum, grow our partnerships across the globe, and ensure that London becomes a leading destination for inclusive innovation in higher education.
Together, we’ve taken the first step in creating a global, inclusive campus. The journey has just begun.
Our second inclusive hackathon, RIX Hackathon25, took place this week at the Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability on UEL’s Docklands campus. The event was a great success and we’re already planning how we can make it even better next year.
After welcoming people and sharing some of our ideas around hackathons and inclusion, we enjoyed a presentation by Sean Gilroy from the BBC Inclusive Design Team, AI for All Minds: Designing UX for Neurodiversity. It was reassuring to hear how focused the BBC are on finding design solutions that ensure that this vital public service broadcaster works for everyone regardless of difference or disability. People had lots of questions for Sean and this showed how much we all value our beloved BBC.
We then revisited last year’s hackathon winner, the Robot Ramp, with a development update from Nic Hollinworth alongside Kiran and Baljit, two RIX co-researchers who use wheelchairs and were involved in the prototype design. Nic reassured the room by telling us that although progress may seem slow, the first Dyson vacuum cleaner went through thousands of prototypes before reaching the shops!
It was now time to look at our list of challenges and encourage people in the room to add their own via a QR code on the screen. The theme for this year’s event was Healthy Living and a lot of the challenges touched on the difficulties people have with eating and sleeping well and having a healthy lifestyle. These days we are surrounded by unhealthy ultra-processed food options in the shops, online, and in food advertising and it is not always easy to know what we should be eating. We split into eight small groups and started identifying the challenges we would work on in the afternoon.
Saul tells us about Team Timekeepers Lord of the Health app and Samantha works on Team Munchies cookABLE appTwo more Hackathon25 teams discussing designs
After lunch we were treated to a three-way presentation by Simon Bedeau, Shelby Nurthen and Ruth Cooper from East London NHS Foundation Trust, Making Work Work. They talked about employment and training for people with learning disabilities and how we need to work together to improve access to employment. Again, people had lots of questions and it was clear that this is a challenge that chimes with people, many of whom will have had their own difficulties in finding and keeping a job.
The rest of the afternoon was taken up with the two hackathon sprints, workshop-like sessions at tables full of art and craft resources that teams could use to make prototypes and build their solutions. Each table had a mix of people with lived experience of difference and disability, Learn International students, UEL interns, RIX staff and others.
Towards the end of the afternoon, we came back together and each team presented their solution to the challenges they had identified. Solutions included the iFit app from the Junk Out Gym In team, a Progress in Motion website from the Progress in Motion team providing accessible and customisable exercise programs, and an easy read cookbook from the Green Plate team. After all the teams had shared their ideas, we had the chance to vote for a winner and, on the promise of a celebratory rap, first place went to Team Munchies for their cookABLE app, an audiovisual and customisable recipe resource incorporating AI that would make cooking more accessible. True to their word and to everyone’s delight, two members of the team performed a celebratory rap!
Style designs for the cookABLE appTeam Munchies celebrate with an impromptu rap
A big thank you to everyone who participated in Hackathon25 and to our guest presenters from the BBC Inclusive Design Team and East London NHS Foundation Trust.
We were so grateful to Makedo, who kindly sponsored a huge set of accessible tools to help us create prototypes at the event. You can find out more about Makedo and their creative building tools by visiting the Makedo website.
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